Linbeymusol
Wonderful character development!
Hadrina
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
Ginger
Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.
frank-fazio-101-4910
Another mis-understanding of the schismatic and excommunicated "Congregation of St Pius XII" which is NOT a Catholic organisation. Rejecting the reforms of Vatican II, this group (which includes Mr. Mel Gibson who builds her own churches!) considers all Popes after Pius XII invalid and heretics.Other than that, it is a solid movie but without the "Catholic" stuff, it would me nothing.
de_Biafra
I find it hard to understand the positive reviews attributed this film. The themes religious fanaticism, paraphrases of Jesus' sufferings are interesting - as always. A movie with one camera position is daring, and requires... something else, which I'm afraid this film doesn't offer. It's film wasted on a story - perhaps as a play it would work much better. Roy Andersson knows this when he adds small diversities to each new position of his camera, but in this case there's no play with tension, no surprises. And yes, I do know of 'Via dolorosa' - there's no comedy there, and no one expects it here. The actors do well, although, they cannot save the story. From the first scene, one already knows how it will end, how it's gonna get there, and there are no surprises, except from the negative. If this was music, it would have no verses, no chorus... perhaps no sound - it's minimalism at its worst. I do enjoy the works of Dreyer, Bergman, Trier, and Andersson - not this - there's only religion linking Brüggemann with the other directors. Had I not been seated in the middle of an almost full theater, I would have walked out on this. This has to be my worst movie experience in... 20 years.
Paul Allaer
"Stations of the Cross" (2014 release from Germany; 110 min.; original title "Kreuzweg") brings the story of a strongly religious Catholic girl named Maria. As the movie opens, we see Maria and five other young teenagers getting a last lesson from the local priest, in preparation for their Confirmation, now just a week away. In the next scene, we observe Maria and her family taking a stroll in a park, and it becomes clear very quickly that there are serious tensions between Maria and her mom, who seems to rule the family with an iron fist. What will become of Maria? How will the tension with her mom play out? To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself….Couple of comments: first, the movie is highly stylish, and for an unusual reason: the movie is brought in 14 chapters, paralleling the 14 stations of the cross that Jesus encounters in his final days and hours. Each of these 14 scenes is brought in a single take, and all but two chapters (late in the film) are filmed with a fixed camera angle. Sitting through the first chapter (with the 6 kids getting Confirmation class), I had no idea whether this movie was going to appeal to me. Literally nothing happens. Then the next chapter comes, and the one after that, and slowly you start to realize that you are watching a harrowing family drama set in a highly conservative Catholic family where any sign of modernism is loathed. The Second Vatican Council reforms are flat-out rebuked, and instead 'old style' Cathlolicism is sought at every step in life. Meanwhile young Maria is trying to find her one path, all the while trying to get her stern mom's love and approval. As it happens, I grew up in an all-out Catholic environment in Belgium in the 60s and 70s. A number of scenes in the movie brought back memories I hadn't thought of in YEARS (such as when I had my Confirmation in 1972). The film features a towering and heartbreaking performance from Lea van Acken as the young Maria, leaving you to shake your head in disbelief, and let's not forget Franziska Weisz as Maria's mom, playing about as unlikeable a character as I've seen in a long time. Kudos to director and co-writer Dietrich Brüggemann for bringing us this highly original, if tense, family drama. I wish we'd get more movies of this caliber more often."Stations of the Cross" was released in the US by the good folks at Film Movement, which over the years has released a tons of great foreign and indie movies that otherwise would never have seen the light of day in the US. As usual, the DVD comes with a bonus shortie, and this time it's an 11 min. film from Germany called "One Shot" which director Dietrich Brüggemann made to great acclaim before he had a chance to make "Stations of the Cross". Definitely worthwhile checking out as well. Meanwhile, "Stations of the Cross" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
petarmatic
When I saw the reviews for this film I expected more then I received. Although nicely imagined, plot did not deliver what I expected. I found it a little bit unrealistic that case like this can be found in a modern day Germany. Of course, like most of European film makers, this film maker concentrated on a case which is more rare and not a regular occurrence. It is an exception in the modern Germany rather then the rule. That is what actually bothered me throughout this film.Acting was very good short of excellent.Like any film which deals with religion, this film also enters the realm of fanatic believers. In this case it is the Catholic faith. When will they make film about ISIL so we can see what a true fanaticism truly is?
